Matchreport:Arsenal1-2Lyon

Lyon -

Sun Jul 28 - 15:15

WHAT HAPPENED

Despite taking the lead during an impressive first-half display, we ended up losing out to Lyon in the Emirates Cup.

We had been good value for our lead at the break. The visiting defence were struggling to get to grips with our movement up front, even following Alexandre Lacazette's early withdrawal for a foot injury.

His replacement Reiss Nelson was soon linking up well with Joe Willock and Henrikh Mkhitaryan - the Armenian had a smart volley turned away by Anthony Lopes before he set up the opening goal.

His right-wing cross was met first time by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang six yards out, who reopened his Emirates account for another campaign.

Aubameyang was joined up front in the second half by Eddie Nketiah, as Unai Emery switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2. We continued looking dangerous up front, with Nelson attacking at pace on the left wing and Willock seeing plenty of the ball in midfield.

Nketiah spurned a couple of decent chances to increase our lead, and we were punished when Moussa Dembele headed home firmly from a searching left wing cross.

Dani Ceballos was introduced for his Gunners debut with 20 minutes remaining, alongside Gabriel Martinelli for his first run out at Emirates Stadium.

And the Brazilian winger looked to have made the perfect impact, when he tucked home from close range, only to have the goal ruled out for handball.

The celebrations from the 50,000 crowd were short-lived, and there was more disappointment moments later when Dembele sprung the offside trap and put Lyon ahead with a cool finish.

Aubameyang so nearly levelled the scores late on, but his first-time lob over the advancing keeper struck the post and went wide.